Man Utd beware! Malen is a man transformed at Roma

Roma forward Donyell Malen travels to face Manchester United in the Champions League as the leading scorer in Europe's major leagues in 2026. Following an initial loan from Aston Villa, the 27-year-old Netherlands international has scored 18 open-play goals in 2026, which included eight goals in his first eight Serie A matches of the season.

Adam Bate highlights that Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical setup has revitalized Malen by deploying him centrally as a striker rather than out wide. After previously struggling for consistent positioning at Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa, Malen has flourished under Gasperini's direct, vertical system leading into Tuesday's clash at Old Trafford.